Keeping cool ...

If you could sort of line yourself up with the tree trunk here and wrapy this photo around yourself, you'd get some sense of what it's like to be under the big Oak tree near the vege gardens at the farm.

This is where we spent most of Wednesday keeping cool ...

Jyra in the middle of telling me a story ...

Frankie and flowers ... of course!

Jyra and Frankie together

Samson finding himself very funny believe me ...

Oli

Kornelius just kicking back on a very warm day (actually laying against my lap hence the photo angle) ...



New cars ...

Phillip came to pick Oli up this week and when he arrived, Oli in his inimitable style said, 'Hey danella, do you want to come and see my new car?'

He has just got this turn of phrase where you know Oli really wants you to come along, that coming with him is the best thing in the world to do ... and why on earth would you ever think not to.

Just parked near where we were at the gate was the new car.  So I went to look with the other children and we were duly impressed.   Oli stood on the doorstoop in the back seat, proudly smiling and looking at everyone and with one hand waving an invite next asked, 'Do you want to have a smell?'

Everyone knows how good something new can smell right?  Yet Oli is the only person I know who would love it so much he'd invite you all right in to join him taking a whiff!

I'm still laughing over that invite.  Of course I obliged ... and when Oli noticed me taking it in, he just gave me an acknowledging nod as he looked straight at me as if to say, 'Pretty good don't you think.'

He is one very funny, very entertaining, smart dear little man.

Sweet whimsy ...

This little gem popped into my mind this morning ...

There we were in the Witches Garden two weeks ago, Orlando, Anna and I.  All getting to know how it felt to be together anew.

Orlando and Anna were enjoying getting to know each other immensely and chatting away very happily.   The conversation turned to animals and in a quiet moment, I asked Orlando if he had any animals at home. 

Before he could answer, Anna excitedly exclaimed, 'I have!' ... and as I looked at her little face all pink with excitement, eyes twinkly at us both, I asked, 'Have you Anna?' expecting to hear about her puppy or cat or fish ... then added, 'What have you got?'

She looked at me as if ready to melt and said, 'Butterflies, I've got butterflies at my house.'

How sweet is that ...

Sign of the times ...

Sign of the times one ...

Last friday morning, a text message came in on my phone from one of the mums ... one that needed a quick reply.   As I tapped out my reply, Luke appeared right beside me in a flash.

'What are you doing?' he said looking at the screen and ready to join me.

'Writing a very quick message Luke.'

His face dropped, 'Oh I thought you were playing a game.'

Sign of the times two ...

A little while later Ted called, 'Look at that!  Look at that!'  Across from the Peppercorn tree where we were, a big stream of water was shooting high from a sprinkler near the pig sty.

'What is it?' asked Ari.

Soon all the children were looking and making comments like, 'Look at the fountain.'   'Where did it come from?'  'What is it? What is it?'

I let them look and wonder for a bit and then offered, 'It's a big sprinkler.'

Perplexed faces looked at me ... and I was asked by a few wee folk at once, 'What's that?'

Last little tidbit to share, which is a 'sign of the times' with a more personal note ... one in Ari's life for sure.

Ari often has little stories to tell me that tumble out as fast as his excitement bubbles.   Last year anytime time his mum Jac was involved, he'd end up saying 'Jack-wigan' ... his version of 'Jacqueline'.   On friday morning, he mentioned her name and this time it was 'Jack-lou-in' ... said with such attention to articulation.   Almost as if her knew he was saying it 'properly' now.  

Very gorgeous to hear as it is full of Ari's love for Jac.

... it's got a long, long, long, long, neck!

Well Ted came back to friday mornings at the farm for the new year with new friends ... Mac and Frieda ... and it didn't take long for this to happen ...

... a happy little huddle playing in the tan bark as if they'd known each other for ages. 

Ted talked his head off all morning long ... after all he had a good month and a half of time without us seeing each other to catch up on!

It was like he wanted me to know everything and was so full of excitement and joy at being back at the farm that he had to let me know Ted style ... which is to tell you all of what he knows and all of what is happening!

At first, before we landed in the tan bark and the huddle, he wanted to know where Magnus was ... when I told him, he took in that he wasn't coming and in a flash said, 'There's Mag.'  I turned round to see and said, 'Maggie the cat?'  Ted's reply was, 'No, Magnus.  That's Magnus,'  pointing and looking straight at Maggie.  As we wandered, he'd see another child and ask, 'What's he's name?'  When I'd answer, 'I don't know.' Ted would say, 'It's Magnus.' ... he'd then stand and look and take them in for moment and say, 'Yeah, that's Magnus.'

It was like he spent the first hour missing Magnus and seeing him in everyone who crossed our path.

Mac had the most gorgeous t-shirt on and he was so pleased when he noticed that I had noticed.  He saw me looking and taking it in ... and instantly started to tell me about it and about the giraffe having a long, long, long, long neck ... as he walked his fingers up it a bit incy, wincy spider like.

Frieda arrived in delight at being at the farm and things stayed that way for her all day long.   She was very happy and got quite a thrill when we were playing down the back and she foung a gum tree branch with gumnuts on it.   Last visit Frieda had, we'd found the same and she'd painstakingly taking all the nuts of the branch, carried them for ages from one place of play to the next and by the end of the day had lost them.   She just picked up from where she left off this time putting them in a little container from her lunch with a tight lid on it so they didn't go missing.

It was a very easy morning.  It was a bit like there was a lot of quiet joy at just being at the farm, being together and the new beginning feeling really good all roung.  The children were most happy playing and the weather helped out as it was gorgeous ...